Improvement in the manufacture of paper



lvrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMBROSE e. FELL, on NEW YORK, as'srenon o. WILLIAM s rrrr, or BROOKLYN,n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,466. dated November21, 1876 application filed January 1 8, 1876.

To all whom "it may concern Be it. known that I, AMBROSE G. FELL, of thecity, county,and State -of New York, have in vented a new and usefulImprovement in the Manufacture of Paper; and that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying specimens.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in the manufacture ofpaper; and the invention consists in splitting or dividing, chemicallyand mechanically, the thickness of ordinary paper into two or moreparts, so that from one sheet of paper of any given thickness and sizetwo or more sheets of paper may be produced, each sheet being of thesame size as the original sheet, but thinner.

By this process a thin paper, adapted to all the purposes for whichtissue-paper is now used, and many other purposes, is produced fromstock of an inferior kind, such as wood or mixed pulp. Heretofore it hasnot been possible to obtain from such or other inferior paper-stock fineand thin sheets of paper, even by the closest working by the ordinarypaper-making machinery. For instance, the lightest paper which is nowmade from wood or mixed pulp stock, is the light, poorer kinds ofprinting-paper, weighing from seventeen to twenty one pounds per ream,(the sheets measuring twenty inches by thirty inches.) This paper, whensubjected to my process of splitting, yields sheets of just half theiroriginal weight and thickness, and twice as many in number, (if thesheet is split in two parts,) and at the same time imparting a smoother,closer, and more silky texture, superior, in fact, to the bestlinen-stock tissue-paper, since it is entirely free from the innumerablepinholes which characterize the ordinary tissuepaper.

My process of treating and producing the divided paper above mentionedis as follows: 1 first treat the sheet of paper that I desire to divideup with any chemical reagent capable of dissolving the cellularsubstance thereof, and producing a more or less perfect vegetableparchment on the surface of the paper only, the action of these reagentsbeing confined to the surface of the paper by the presence of sizing orother substance previously introduced to impede its penetration. Thesizing that is ordinarily found in paper, as generally constructed,answers the purpose very well without the addition of other sizing. Thereagents used for dissolving the cellulose of the paper, and forproducing the parchment-like surface. before named, may be a solution ofeither am noniacal oxide of copper, sulphuric acid, nitro-sulphuricacid, chloride of zinc, or any other agent that will toughen the surfacewithout enteringthe in terior ofthe paper, so. as to allow of its beingsplit into sheets without tearing or injuring them, it being immaterialwhether these agents act by reason of converting the surface of thepaper into parchment or otherwise, so long as the sheet that is undertreatment can be divided in the manner I have stated; but I prefer someone of the above agents for this purpose, for it not only enables thepaper to split in a uniform manner, but adds beneficial qualitiesthereto. The paper, having been wetted with any;of the above agents-forinstance, sulphuric acid-is next thoroughly washed with water until notrace of the acid remains; This being done, it is divided, say, into twosheets by laying it flat and smooth on a table, and splitting the cornerof one of its ends with a sharp knife or other similar instrument. Thetexture of the paper being in this way broken, the upper surface iscarefully lifted until a thin film is raised across the full width ofthe sheet. A rod or roller is next inserted beneath the film, and as itis forced upward, the paper .will be split to the full length of theroll. This splitting may be accomplished at almost any degree of speeddesired, and it is best accomplished by having the roller fixed insuitable bearings, and passing the paper against it; and this may bedone without the least danger of fracturing the paper or tearing thefiber, providing the paper is kept smooth as it progresses. After thepaper is separated, it is dried in any convenient way. The paper may besplit into two or more layers, as required, or as the thickness of thepaper will admit.

It is essential that only the thinnest possible layer of the paperssurface be acted upon by the chemical used, otherwise the paper wouldnot split; and even if it would split, the result would be two layers ofvegetable parchment, which are transparent, stiff, and possess otherqualities which would not answer the purposes of this invention, theobject being to produce a fine quality of opaque, supple paper,answering all the requirements and possessing the qualities of the finerpapers, but being produced from inferior stock, as hereinbeforementioned, and by the method stated.

The depth to which the chemical agent shall penetrate the paper is underthe full controlof the operator by observing certain rules governing thestrength of chemical solution used, its temperature, and time oftreatment there with, 850. l

The thinner paper obtained by my process, even from the poorer qualitiesof stock, is as light in weight as the finest linen-stock tissuepaper,but is much closer and uniform in texture, being, as before stated,entirely destitute of the innumerable pin-holes which are visible in thebest of ordinary tissue-paper, and possesses other qualities, such asbeing stronger, 850., which fits it for uses for which the ordinaryarticle cannot be used. For instance, its close texture enables it, whencolored, to be used for all the purposes for which the surface-finishedfancy papers are now used--viz., covering paper boxes, &c.

The split surface affords a rough absorbing surface for the adhesion ofpaste or other attaching agent that may be used to fasten it to anydesired surface. The want of such rough or absorbing surface hashitherto unfitted vegetable parchment for many uses.

The flannel-like surface of my split paper enables it to cling'veryclose and tenaciously to any textile fabric to which it may be attached,thus furnishing a cheap material for book-cloth, window-shades, 860. Itsmerits might be continued at length, butI haveapplication of chemicalagents to the surface of the paper, and by means of a roller splittingor dividing the paper into thin sheets, substantially as described.

2. The process .hereinbefore described of splitting or dividing papersthrough their thickness into two or more thin sheets, by condensing orhardening the entire surface of the paper, and at the same timepreserving its interior soft and yielding, substantiallyas described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, split paper having a glazed surfaceon one 'sideand an unglazed surface on the other, and of a smooth,close, and silky texture, free from pinholes and the like, substantiallyas specified.

AMBROSE G. FELL. Witnesses:

G. M. PLYmrroN, H. L. WATTENBERG.

